Kanamycin-induced renal impairment in dehydrated rats was spared by the administration of sodium D-glucaro-1, 4-lactone. In the plasma elimination and urinary excretion studies, n-glucarate-treated rats showed quick removal of the antibiotic from the body as compared with non-treated rats. Organ distribution study clearly demonstrated the potent nephrotoxicity of kanamycin and the reduction effect of D-glucarate against the nephrotoxicity. The
drug level in the kidney in non-treated rats was more than two orders of magnitude higher than those in other organs such as the liver, lung and spleen, and remained high for 48 hours after antibiotic administration. In D-glucarate-treated rats the kidney content of the drug was diminished as compared with non-treated rats just after the antibiotic administration, followed by a gradual decline with time.